The Freedom of Fashion at Brave! Factory Festival
Alexis Olin is a multidisciplinary artist from Ukraine, he is a photographer who prefers shooting on film, a DJ, and a painter, drawing infinite series of creatures moving in space in parallel realities but mostly living on the fabrics of his clothing brand Métrique. In this fashion shoot, Alexis collaborated with Alina Pash, a model and a stylist for this session, and a singer, who has released 2 albums this year, making music in the genres of hip-hop, pop, with electronic overtones singing in Ukranian and English languages.
The shoot was a part of the photography and fashion contest in which Alexis and Alina won one of the nominations. The shooting took place in the METROBUD factory on the location of the music festival. Industrial premises, brick walls, extremely high ceilings, natural light coming shyly from the enormous windows into the otherwise very dark room all come in contrast to the main character and styling. Alina wears an authentic turban-like golden headwear and a black kimono with a print of colorful flowers that emphasize the yellow of the metal objects.
The session is divided into several transformations and styling decisions, from shooting indoors, creating a fascinating visualization with the play of lights and shadows to shooting outside in a sunlit location and modern, edgy look.
From the metal stairs of the fire escape to the old cars and construction tubes with the cement factory in the background, the team finds a creative way to explore and present the location. We speak with Alexis and Alina about the photoshoot, the preparations, and the festival.
Tell about the Brave! Factory Festival, what is its main theme, and did you attend it this year?
Alexis: Brave! Factory Festival - is one of the largest independent electronic music festivals in Ukraine. The festival was held at the METROBUD factory, there were six stages, each with a completely different style of music, with the participation of foreign and local DJs and live artists.
Of course, we have attended the festival, I've been to all three, Alina was to two, and this year she performed with a concert.
Alina: It is definitely the best Ukrainian festival. Without any doubts.
Great format, crazy cool locations, a lot of interesting music styles (not only techno, for sure) nice level of organization and really lovely brave people around, who deserve it. Such an amazing moment of Ukrainian culture and freedom after years of pressure. And people really deserve this kind of magnificent celebration.
‘Such an amazing moment of ukrainian culture and freedom after years of pressure. And people really deserve this kind of magnificent celebration’
— Alina Pash
The location you shot the series at was in the surrounding of the festival. Tell about scouting for the specific places and choosing the right ones for the shoot as the big empty building or a hangar made of bricks.
Alexis: Yes, everything was filmed at the festival's territory. It is huge, and we moved around it very fast, changing clothes, mood, and the atmosphere in the frame. Initially, it was a photo day for everyone who wanted to shoot at the location, which was postponed due to bad weather. Photographers were given a couple of hours to make the shoot. The winner received a free entrance to the festival and several additional gifts. We have actually won in one of the nominations (by the way, I've just remembered that we haven't yet taken the gifts). : )
We arrived relatively early, but the sun was already very bright, and I was worried about the frames to get the right contrast. I photograph on film only, I don't duplicate the shoot on digital, so I can't immediately see if everything is ok in the pictures. Waiting for scans is always exciting and worrying for me, especially when I collaborate with someone on the process.
‘I photograph on film only, I don't duplicate the shoot on digital’
— Alexis Olin
The styling is stunning and the garments selected are full of color while also they create a fascinating contrast between the authentic African palette and textile the blazer with the buck hat, and the haute couture piece. What were the main decisions for fashion decisions on set?
Alina: I’m a singer. I’m mixing folk, hip-hop rap, pop, and trip-hop in one bottle.
Of course, my style of clothes is also about mixing cultures and vibes. I’m getting these pieces from around the world during travels and concerts. It’s deeper than just styling, it’s going more into my personality, and how I feel. My friend Valera, a very special guy, taught me how to create my own character while staying myself, even during a set like this. We got no mirror, no make-up artist. We did it truly there, with that urban vibe and dust. And that’s the point! We just checked before some stuff from my closet early in the morning and gone to this experience.
‘We were the last team to arrive and it seemed to me that people looked at us a bit strange, because we appeared as coming from a bazaar, with sacks full of things’
What was the main feeling or atmosphere you wanted to achieve with this set?
Alexis: We really wanted to convey that people can dress up to festivals like this one, that it doesn't have to be just a T-shirt and black jeans. This is a place where a creative approach is possible, which in everyday life is usually reproached or misunderstood. During the festival, there can be complete freedom. So why not use it?
Could you share a funny moment or a conversation you remember during that day while shooting Alina?
Alexis: The first thing I remembered is when I drove to pick up Alina in the morning, she was still asleep :) We were the last team to arrive and it seemed to me that people looked at us a bit strange, because we appeared as coming from a bazaar, with sacks full of things to complete the looks styled back home. We lagged behind the whole group, to whom we told where everything was and were running under the burning sun in search of something interesting ourselves.
Alina: Oh, I need to honestly say that Mr. Alexis Olin, aka Darklunni, is one of the funniest people I have ever met in my life. Every moment when we meet, he’s using his special power - humor, which is so delicate and dark, you have no idea.
